Your Character's Name: Cupid Sometime later when I gifted away my apple
I used to keep a diary when I was a child. Back before I could have possibly had anything to say, I filled endless pages. Now that I’m out here, I fill next to none.
Wandering aimlessly in this, the ruins of a forgotten place. Apart from the very existence of time itself. Everything here is grey and decayed and dead. Crumbling to dust. There are no monsters here. The only horror here is the crushing loneliness a place like this depresses upon the very fibers of ones immortal soul. Plucking away as a spoiled child at a poorly tuned harp. This world is a horror alright, but the only monster here is the emptiness of timeless waiting.
We’ve been walking for what feels like forever. The thespian continues to blather on, reciting beautiful nothings be doesn’t understand written by a man who was dead many generations before he was born. Its colder today than it was yesterday. It shouldn’t be too much longer now before the world turns to ice again. Winter came late last year, perhaps this year nature means to make up for that.
My other traveling companion, Calvin, hasn’t been nearly as talkative as the thespian. But being that vocal takes commitment after all. None the less, I wonder whats going on in Cal’s head. Sometimes when he doesn’t know I’m watching I can see the ghosts of something on his face. Whatever it is, it seems heavy somehow. He seems different now than before he left the village. Older. I hope he’s alright.
Walking along, we see a building in the distance and go towards it. It turns out to be a barn and the remains of what I assume was a house. All that is left of the house is it’s foundation. We don’t see any people.
I’m excited when I find that three of the four generators we found in the barn are functional. With all the unspoiled gasoline along side them, we could run the generators for a good long time. Then I realize what a waste my excitement was. We’re in the middle of nowhere in a barn with no door. Why does it matter if I can run these stupid generators or not? Who could they possibly help? For the first time the truths of my new life, out here in the wastes, really starts to sink in. I hope my mind doesn’t become like these generators, a powerful tool in a setting that robs it of purpose and value.
The thespian takes some of the gas stockpile for future use.
I suggest we burn this place to the ground to prevent bad men from using it. I don’t really care if we do, I’m just frustrated. I miss my parents. I miss our dog. I miss the time before I peaked behind the curtain and fount there was no wizard, only a man. I’m not a scientist, a scientist would persevere. I'm a fraud.
There’s nothing to find out here but a pointless and unpleasant death.
We come upon another building sometime later. I don’t know exactly how long it takes to find this place after leaving the barn. It feels like forever, but times seems to stand still here anyways. There are people here, though we don’t know how many. The people are locked away from us behind a thick metal door that looks like it has done a good job of keeping a variety of unsavory things out.
A man’s voice is telling us to step into the light in front of the small viewing slot, so they can see if we’re armed. If we’re not they are interested in talking and trading, or so the man says. The other two I’m traveling with are already in from of the door, but I’m afraid. I bicker with the voice about not wanting to get shot by standing there, in the open while for all I know he could have a gun pointed at my friends already. Then I realize how ridiculous I sound. We’re on his turf, in his building. If he wanted us dead, we would probably know by now anyways. My friends are annoyed that I won’t just give in and do as the man’s voice says. I’m embarrassed, I hate myself, and I step into the light.
It’s not exactly perfect, but it sure isn’t bad here either. I wouldn’t mind staying here for a while and learning everything this man, who I now know as Tony, knows about the world. We talked about agricultural theory and other delightful scientific things. I learned some new things today. I love learning new things. I didn’t realize all the tiny intricacies that go into cultivating food plants and keeping them healthy. I could listen to Tony talk for hours. Finally something sensical to talk about! Something concrete and factual and comforting! Oh, how beautiful science is. Always dependable, unchanging, provable. At least these truths that I have come to depend upon still hold true in this place. Perhaps I was too quick to write this place off after all. Maybe there are things, still remaining, that are worth the risk to discover.
There are what could be two possibly three families living in this make-shift bunker with Tony. Everyone looks thin, but they still look happy. The children play in the dirt, their parents smile at each other, hug and kiss. While we eat and after people are putting up with Bartre’s performances, maybe even enjoying them. At a time like this, I find myself enjoying them too. Not that I’d ever let Bartre know! I look over and see Calvin smiling back at me.
This is a wonderfully hopeful place.
I look at Tony, sitting across the fire from me. I think of his garden and the families I saw earlier. I take out the apple my Mother gave me when I left. It looks red and plump and perfect, even after spending two days in my backpack. I can practically smell the sweetness beneath it’s ruby red skin.
I hand it to Tony, and tell him I hope its seeds can be salvaged. I hope it can be of some use. Then I go to sleep, and dream of an enormous apple tree feeding generations to come. Maybe I can do something in this world after all. I can’t say for sure, but I must have been smiling in my sleep.
Sometime later when I gifted away my apple
I used to keep a diary when I was a child. Back before I could have possibly had anything to say, I filled endless pages. Now that I’m out here, I fill next to none.
Wandering aimlessly in this, the ruins of a forgotten place. Apart from the very existence of time itself. Everything here is grey and decayed and dead. Crumbling to dust. There are no monsters here. The only horror here is the crushing loneliness a place like this depresses upon the very fibers of ones immortal soul. Plucking away as a spoiled child at a poorly tuned harp. This world is a horror alright, but the only monster here is the emptiness of timeless waiting.
We’ve been walking for what feels like forever. The thespian continues to blather on, reciting beautiful nothings be doesn’t understand written by a man who was dead many generations before he was born. Its colder today than it was yesterday. It shouldn’t be too much longer now before the world turns to ice again. Winter came late last year, perhaps this year nature means to make up for that.
My other traveling companion, Calvin, hasn’t been nearly as talkative as the thespian. But being that vocal takes commitment after all. None the less, I wonder whats going on in Cal’s head. Sometimes when he doesn’t know I’m watching I can see the ghosts of something on his face. Whatever it is, it seems heavy somehow. He seems different now than before he left the village. Older. I hope he’s alright.
Walking along, we see a building in the distance and go towards it. It turns out to be a barn and the remains of what I assume was a house. All that is left of the house is it’s foundation. We don’t see any people.
I’m excited when I find that three of the four generators we found in the barn are functional. With all the unspoiled gasoline along side them, we could run the generators for a good long time. Then I realize what a waste my excitement was. We’re in the middle of nowhere in a barn with no door. Why does it matter if I can run these stupid generators or not? Who could they possibly help? For the first time the truths of my new life, out here in the wastes, really starts to sink in. I hope my mind doesn’t become like these generators, a powerful tool in a setting that robs it of purpose and value.
The thespian takes some of the gas stockpile for future use.
I suggest we burn this place to the ground to prevent bad men from using it. I don’t really care if we do, I’m just frustrated. I miss my parents. I miss our dog. I miss the time before I peaked behind the curtain and fount there was no wizard, only a man. I’m not a scientist, a scientist would persevere. I'm a fraud.
There’s nothing to find out here but a pointless and unpleasant death.
We come upon another building sometime later. I don’t know exactly how long it takes to find this place after leaving the barn. It feels like forever, but times seems to stand still here anyways. There are people here, though we don’t know how many. The people are locked away from us behind a thick metal door that looks like it has done a good job of keeping a variety of unsavory things out.
A man’s voice is telling us to step into the light in front of the small viewing slot, so they can see if we’re armed. If we’re not they are interested in talking and trading, or so the man says. The other two I’m traveling with are already in from of the door, but I’m afraid. I bicker with the voice about not wanting to get shot by standing there, in the open while for all I know he could have a gun pointed at my friends already. Then I realize how ridiculous I sound. We’re on his turf, in his building. If he wanted us dead, we would probably know by now anyways. My friends are annoyed that I won’t just give in and do as the man’s voice says. I’m embarrassed, I hate myself, and I step into the light.
It’s not exactly perfect, but it sure isn’t bad here either. I wouldn’t mind staying here for a while and learning everything this man, who I now know as Tony, knows about the world. We talked about agricultural theory and other delightful scientific things. I learned some new things today. I love learning new things. I didn’t realize all the tiny intricacies that go into cultivating food plants and keeping them healthy. I could listen to Tony talk for hours. Finally something sensical to talk about! Something concrete and factual and comforting! Oh, how beautiful science is. Always dependable, unchanging, provable. At least these truths that I have come to depend upon still hold true in this place. Perhaps I was too quick to write this place off after all. Maybe there are things, still remaining, that are worth the risk to discover.
There are what could be two possibly three families living in this make-shift bunker with Tony. Everyone looks thin, but they still look happy. The children play in the dirt, their parents smile at each other, hug and kiss. While we eat and after people are putting up with Bartre’s performances, maybe even enjoying them. At a time like this, I find myself enjoying them too. Not that I’d ever let Bartre know! I look over and see Calvin smiling back at me.
This is a wonderfully hopeful place.
I look at Tony, sitting across the fire from me. I think of his garden and the families I saw earlier. I take out the apple my Mother gave me when I left. It looks red and plump and perfect, even after spending two days in my backpack. I can practically smell the sweetness beneath it’s ruby red skin.
I hand it to Tony, and tell him I hope its seeds can be salvaged. I hope it can be of some use. Then I go to sleep, and dream of an enormous apple tree feeding generations to come. Maybe I can do something in this world after all. I can’t say for sure, but I must have been smiling in my sleep.